Winter Continues ~ Grace Abounds

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday…which predicts another 6 weeks of winter.

I have to laugh at that since the official First Day of Spring is March 20^th – 7 weeks away.

The poor creature – who wouldn’t be scared after being ripped out of a cozy bed and thrust into the ‘limelight’!

I am sure the East Coast is dreading another six weeks of winter.  However, over here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had an extremely mild winter.  I’m not sure what that will mean for the spring/summer months…drought?

As a Christian, I put my faith in the Lord.  This is for all aspects of my life, not just weather J  As a human, I fall short of that goal.  However, God’s grace and mercy are in abundance and cover my failings.  Thank you Lord!

Happy Thanksgiving

Blessings this day the Lord has given us!

Autumn

My favorite season has arrived (according to the calendar).  The quote below sums up some of my thoughts as well.  I thank the Lord for the diversity He gives.

 Don't you love them?  

More and more I am beginning to appreciate the seasons and the unique purpose of each one.  Fall is definitely in the air...some rain, some cool nights and mornings, orange pumpkins, and falling leaves.

Summer is such an incredibly busy time, with wonderful harvests, preserving, family gatherings, visitors, events, and so much more.  Although the cold wet rainy season has it's challenges, I think we are all looking a bit forward to having a somewhat slower paced autumn and winter!  -- This is from Joyful Keeper at Home blog

Life continues on in the Pacific Northwest.  Cooler nights and sunny days.  Praises to the Lord for the beauty He surrounds us with!

Long-awaited Liebster Award Answers

I was blown away to be a recipient of the Liebster Award!  Thank you, Julia from Writing for His Glory :-)  Here are the answers to the questions she presented:

1.             If you were in outer space and your friend started drifting off, what would you do? “swim” over to her and grab on; we will go together.

2.                   What is your least favorite blog?  Hmmm, I don’t know.  I usually search for my interests so don’t run into unsavory blogs – at least not on purpose – lol.

3.                   If you had nothing to eat would you, eat grass, flowers, tree bark, or dirt? Flowers

4.             If you were woken up by a screaming sister telling you that your older sister was badly injured and bleeding, what would you do?  I just took a CPR class :~)  Have her call 911, go and put pressure on the wound until help arrives.

5.                   What post did you laugh the post at on my blog? Not a laugh but a “who knew” – May 14, 2014

6.             Have you ever climbed on the roof of anything? (like garage, chicken house, etc). No, I am afraid of heights.

7.             Do you wear a promise ring? (Or purity ring)  That wasn’t something that was used when I was growing up (late 70s/early 80s).  I am currently single (was married) and have no prospects.  However, I believe in the idea as it would be a visual reminder.

8.             Do you have a favorite meal to cook, from scratch? No boxed meals, ladies! ;)  Tex-mex Quinoa Salad and biscuits with a peach cobbler for dessert.

9.                   Have you ever tried to break a broken egg against something? Haha – nope.

10.          If a stranger walked up on the streets, handed to a note and it said "Don't look at that car". What would you do? =D   Human nature – turn and look :~)

11.          If you could clean a house (even the bathrooms! ;) )  with 5 bloggers, who would they be? Mandy@Biblical Homemaking, Gloria@Amish Reader, Olivia@Fresh Modesty, Mary Ann@A Joyful Chaos and you (Julia)@Writing for His Glory ~ of course.  However, there are many others that I would include in this group :-)

Car-Less

So long, farewell, au wiedersehen, goodbye
(heehee - love that movie!) 

I am officially ‘car-less’.  I haven't driven my vehicle since May 5th.  On Friday, (yep, the 13th) I had a fabulous experience with CarMax.  They do an appraisal on your car and give you a written offer that is valid for 7 days.  This offer is for a sale or trade-in.  Both the appraisal day and the sale day (yesterday) went quickly and smoothly.  I would recommend CarMax to any and all.

My biggest thanks to the Lord as He is good!  I left the outcome in His hands without a worry and it turned out fantastic.  After the car loan was paid, I received a check for the balance.  Thank you to everyone who kept an ear open for buyers and to those who prayed about the sale of my vehicle.

Spring Clean-Up

I have the landscaping crew coming today to do a spring clean-up on my yard.  Then it is my duty to keep up on it :-)

I think my daughter and I will be looking at doing some raised beds.  I would also love to put up a clothesline ~ maybe one of the umbrella type

My small group is starting a new book of the Bible this Saturday: Jonah.  I am looking forward to actually getting into the Word versus a book by some celebrated author.

Praises to God for His grace.  Yesterday was my daughter's 1st day of full-time employment.  Congrats to her and thanks to the Lord!

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful to our Heavenly Father for sending His one and only son down to earth for one and all sinners.  I am also thankful for all of my blessings received through His lovingkindness; family, friends, health, home, job, co-workers, the majesty of nature...the list goes on.

The picture has more to do with my being vegan that giving thanks (I thought it was cute).

Bible Study and Coziness

Furnace is working wonderfully!  Kudos to the folks at Holliday Heating as they were helpful as well as professional.  Bum that it was the control board and on the spendy side of things.

The Thursday evening Bible study is great – 20-30 participants.  I am enjoying a study with my daughter.

My small group is back in the swing of meeting weekly – thank you God!  I missed the group tremendously during the summer months.  I don’t know if they fully realize it, even though I did plenty of whining~lol.

I need to revamp my budget this weekend, joy.  I am lifting my budget up in prayer and asking for God’s leading in this aspect of my life – yep, keep grabbing it back trying to do it ‘my way’ not His way.

It's been too long

I haven’t blogged in a few weeks so I am trying to get back on track.

My small group just started a new study.  We are reading the book “Bad Girls of the Bible” by Liz Curtis Higgs.  There are study questions at the end of each chapter.  It is an easy read and Liz does a great job of bringing the ladies to life.  Since we are all sinners, it can be easier to relate to those that fall from grace versus the people that are (or seem to be) beyond reproach.

I am also going to participate in a Thursday evening study with my daughter.  It is using the workbook entitled Faithful, Abundant, True featuring Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore.

Lately I have been wondering what God’s plan is for me.  I know I need to be in prayer and also listening to His quiet voice.  Sometimes I wish that His voice would boom J

Today I request to be added to each of your prayer lists for specifically gleaning where the Lord would have me be and what He would have me do.

I picked up a couple more pairs of boots for fall, winter, and spring (but they aren’t ‘snow’ boots).  Now I have brown, grey and black :~)

The weather has finally started to cool down.  I love all four seasons but my favorite is Autumn!  Cool nights, warm days and beautiful colors – thank you, Lord!

Winding Down

I recently got some boots to wear with my skirts this fall/winter/spring.  Sometimes a person needs more than a pair of shoes.  I purchased black because the color will coordinate well with all of my skirts.

Summer is on the downhill slide and fall is right around the corner.  I must say I am quite eager for fall.  My Bible study small group will be starting back up; the temperature will move down the thermometer a bit and the beautiful changing of the leaves will start to occur.

I love living in the Inland Pacific Northwest with our distinct four seasons!

Thank you Lord for the many blessing I receive each day; all the little things…

Bounty

I just received some yummy veggies from Jeanine’s garden.  They are beautiful.  It amazes me the bounty received from the small plants I saw over Memorial Day weekend.  I am excited to try the lemon cucumbers as I have heard they are delicious!  I am still hoping to have my own garden next year.  There are always variables when trying to plan – all will come together as it is meant to.

The temperature has finally come down into the mid-80s ~ much better for sleeping.  I started to whine about the temperature the other day; then realized how thankful I am to live in an area that has four distinct seasons.  True blessings!

Hot July

Independence Day was full of family fun.  It was also our family reunion and we had a wonderful time.  The weather has been extremely hot over the last week and a half both here and in Oregon where we had the reunion.

I haven't started a new Bible study yet.  I am currently reading some Agatha Christie books -- what an amazing writer.  I love her mysteries :-)

My daughter is continuing her search for a full-time professional job.  She and her husband recently moved and are closer to Church and his jobs.  I am proud of them both as they continue to set goals and follow God's leading.

My heart is filled with thanksgiving -- thank you Heavenly Father!

Happy May Day

My devotional this morning spoke of the renewing birth of nature each spring.  The Lord is speaking to me about my yard through these morning devotions – the past couple of weeks have focused on nature and gardens!

When I was young, my yard work experience was not of the nurturing kind and I tend to dread and resist it on a regular basis.  However, through these devotions I am seeing a different aspect of nature ~ with my yard specifically.  Although my goal is to have minimal grass, I am having native plants and wildflowers along with raised garden beds.  There will be rock with native grasses interspersed for color.  I have come to realize {on an intimate level} that each bit of green or color is from God; whether it is a weed or flower.

Thank you Lord for the beauty of your creation!

CHRISTIANITY

  

I just finished reading Basic Christianity by John Stott and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.  I recommend all Christians and non-Christians alike to read these two books.

They are both straight-forward, informative and eye-opening!  I raved to my small group when I read Mere Christianity.  However, as I finished Basic Christianity, I knew I needed to let the public know how insightful these books were.

I thank my heavenly father for inspiring these men to write these books to share Christianity with the multitudes who are unbelievers, seekers, dabblers, believers and all others :~)

MS Walk 2013

I survived the cold and wind on Sunday and completed the MS Walk. I did the shorter walk as I have painful memories of heel covering blisters from the longer walk.

Thank you to all who sponsored my walk! Every penny helps; all the money stays in our local area.

As I was listening to my IPod Shuffle and admiring the buildings of Fort Wright, I was amazed at how many young people were walking. There were many people in the age bracket of 15-30. Not that I am ancient; however, I was surprised.

I do know that MS is unfortunately more prevalent in our area than many others. My guess is that many of those ‘youngsters’ knows someone personally.

I give thanks daily to God for my health and abilities that He has blessed me with.

Verse of the Day

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. — Proverbs 20:1 (NIV)

The image of some people I have known came to mind when I read this verse today.

I thank the Lord for His righteousness and guidance.

Wine and beer are not evil; however, a person's actions after consuming quantities may be.  Be wary, my friends.

White and sleek

My new vehicle ~ yes, I bit the bullet.  I am ready for winter!  It is a smooth, quiet ride and handles well in dry and rainy weather.  As an AWD, I am sure it will do wonders in the snow.

Thanks for all the advice.  It was taken, reviewed and some was used and some was not.  I think that is how it usually goes.

My goal is to not have to purchase another vehicle for many years  :-)



Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for that I wanted to put "pen to paper" so to speak.  I have a wonderful daughter who is thoughtful, caring and helpful. My parents (both sets) are supportive - each in their special way.  I have two sisters - one in Alaska and the other in town (for the last few years) with her husband and two girls.  We are there for each other; even across the distances as years go by.  I have recently forged some friendships at the office I work in - Generous, caring ladies.  The one stronghold that has carried me through rough times, sad times, happy times and glad times is the Lord my God.  He is unchanging and steady.  How thankful I am that He cares for me.  Many things change in life, but the love of Christ is not one of them.  I am blessed beyond all measure in my reasons for being thankful this year!